I-League Committee sticks to 3+1 rule on number of foreigners in season beginning October 29

Last season, the I-League clubs were allowed to register six foreign players but only four, including one Asian, were allowed on the match-day squad. India head coach Igor Stimac is not a fan of increasing the number of foreigners in the domestic leagues on the grounds that less number of Indian players will get to play.

"The League Committee recommended (to the executive committee) to increase the number of foreigners to 5+1 (5 foreigners from anywhere in the world, and one from Asia) in the squad on the match day," the AIFF said in a release after the League Committee meeting. "However, out of these, a total of four foreigners should be allowed in the playing eleven at any given point of time on a 3+1 basis.

While a foreigner on the pitch can be substituted by another foreign player at the bench or by an Indian player, a foreigner of an Asian quota can be replaced by another foreigner of an Asian quota or by an Indian." The meeting was chaired by newly-elected League Committee head Lalnghinglova Hmar, who is also an executive Committee member. Also present in the meeting were Secretary General Shaji Prabhakaran, Deputy Secretary General Sunando Dhar, among others.

In other major recommendations to the executive committee, Second Division League will have a total of 15 teams from across the country, plus the reserve teams from the ISL and I-League teams, with the final rounds being played on a home-away basis. "No foreign players will be allowed in the Hero Second Division League.